System of data discrimination in money dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

For discriminating the respective digits that are exhibited by indicator tubes of a money dispensing machine to indicate an amount of money to be released, there are provided with a plurality of first detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminal of each of the indicator tubes which corresponds to the digit &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;0&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; to be exhibited thereby. Each of second detecting circuits cooperating with the first detecting circuits has an input connected to the output terminals of each indicator tube which are provided correspondingly to preselected ones of the remaining digits, usually from &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;1&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; to &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;9.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; An output signal of each indicator tube is produced only from the output terminal corresponding to the digit being exhibited at the moment. The second detecting circuits, or both the first and the second detecting circuits, may be each equipped with a switch whereby the circuit can be rendered operative or inoperative as desired.

United States Patent [1 1 Hatanaka et al.

[ 51 Feb. 27, 1973 1 SYSTEM OF DATA DISCRIMINATION IN MONEY DISPENSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Yoshihiro Hatanaka; Hideto Shigemori, both of I-limeji, Japan [73] Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

Himeji-shi, Japan 22 Filed: rm.2s,1971

211 Appl.No.: 213,019

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-L. T. l-lix Attorney-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT For discriminating the respective digits that are ex hibited by indicator tubes of a money dispensing machine to indicate an amount of money to be released, there are provided with a plurality of first detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminal of each of the indicator tubes which corresponds to the digit 0 to be exhibited thereby. Each of second detecting circuits cooperating with the first detecting circuits has an input connected to the output terminals of each indicator tube which are provided correspondingly to preselected ones of the remaining digits, usually from 1 to 9. An output signal of each indicator tube is produced only from the output terminal corresponding to the digit being exhibited at the moment. The second detecting circuits, or both the first and the second detecting circuits, may be each equipped with a switch whereby the circuit can be rendered operative or inoperative as desired.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 113271973 7 1 8 824 SHEET 10F 2 lo. I. 2. 3.4. 5.6. 7.8.9]

2 DATA DISCRIMI- 3 DRUM CON 4COMPARATOR NATING SECTION TROL CIRCUIT FIG'.2

PATENTEDFEBZ? m3 SHEET 20F 2 FIG.3

8 a? 6 5 4 a3 .2 all o SYSTEM OF DATA DISCRIMINATION IN MONEY DISPENSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to money dispensing machines, and more particularly to a novel system of data discrimination in an electronically controlled money dispensing machine which releases a desired amount of money in notes and/or coin of preselected denominations. Throughout this specification the currency yielded by the money dispensing machine is exemplified by, and not limited to, the Japanese yen.

As a certain number representative of an amount of money to be released is registered by the operator in the money dispensing machine, a memory or storage device provided for each digit place of the number stores the digit occupying the particular digit place. When the digit is either of 1 to 9, a corresponding amount of money is dispensed in notes or coin of a preselected denomination. No dispensation occurs in that digit place in case the digit is 0.

When notes or coin of two different denominations is prepared for the amount indicated by the digit in any of the digit places, still further discrmination of the digit is required. Let it be supposed for example that the digit in the place representative of thousands of yen is 9, and that notes of 1,000 and 5,000-yen denominations are prepared for the digit place. Unless the digit 9" is discriminated in accordance with the'concepts of this invention, the amount will not be automatically produced in the minimum number of notes available, that is, four 1,000-yen notes and one 5,000-yen note.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel system of data discrimination in a money dispensing machine whereby an amount of money registered in the machine is released in the minimum number of notes or coins prepared therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of data discrimination having such a simplified configuration that it can be easily built into money dispensing machines in current use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of data discrimination equipped with means to render the system operative or inoperative as desired, so that an amount indicated by each digit of a number registered in the money dispensing machine incorporating the system of the invention can be released either in notes or coin of one denomination only or in those of two different denominations, whenever the amount permits the latter alternative.

According to the present invention, briefly summarized in its broader aspects, there is provided with a system of discriminating the respective digits of a number exhibited by a plurality of indicator tubes of a money dispensing apparatus, comprising a plurality of first detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminal of each of the indicator tubes which corresponds to the digit 0" to be exhibited, each of the first detecting circuits having an output member the condition of which is affected according to a signal supplied from the output terminal of the corresponding one of the indicator tubes, and a plurality of second detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminals of each of the indicator tures thereof, will become more apparent and understandable as the description proceeds herein-below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the relative arrangement of the data discriminating system of the present invention and some related components of a money dispensing machine;

FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the data discriminating system as a first preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2, showing a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in order to describe the system of data discrimination as adopted in a money dispensing machine in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, an indicator tube 1 associated with a storage device, not shown, and a data discriminating section 2 are provided foreach of the predetermined digit places to be occupied by the digits of a number representing a total amount of money to be released. A drum control circuit 3 and a comparator 4 are provided common .to all the digit places. It must be noted that the makeup of the data discriminating section 2 differs according to whether an amount of money represented by a digit in each of the aforesaid digit places is to be released in notes or coin of one denomination only, or of two different denominations.

Thus, with reference to FIG. 2, the data discriminating section 2 is equipped with a first detecting circuit 2, alone in case there are notes or coin of only one denomination prepared for the particular digit place for which the section is provided, and with both the first detecting circuit 2., and a second detecting circuit 2, if notes or coin of two different denominations is prepared for the digit place. If it is supposed that the machine is designed to dispense money in tens of thousands, in thousands, and in hundreds of yen, and that an amount of money in tens of thousands is released in notes of 10,000-yen denomination only, an amount in thousands in notes of 1,000 and 5,000-yen denominations, and an amount in hundreds in notes of 500-yen denomination only, then the data discriminating sections 2 provided for the amounts to be released respectively in tens of thousands and in hundreds are each equipped with the first detecting circuit 2, alone, whereas the data discriminating section for the amount in thousands is equipped with both the first and second detecting circuits 2, and 2,. Alternatively, the first and second detecting circuits may be provided for each and all of the predetermined digit places, and a switch SW,

connected between ground and a point between seriesconnected resistances 5, and 6, of the second detecting circuit 2, may be closed to introduce ground potential to the input side of this latter circuit and hence to render the same inoperative wherever or whenever only the first detecting circuit is required.

The indicator tube 1 is of such construction that a signal in a low level is produced only from one of its output terminals T corresponding to the digit exhibited at the moment. (The numerals accompanying the reference character T common to all the output terminals of the indicator tube in FIG. 2 represent the digits to be exhibited thereby.) The output terminal T of the indicator tube is connected to the input of the first detecting circuit 2,, and the output terminals T, to T, thereof to the input of the second detecting circuit 2, in this embodiment of the invention.

Relay coils RY, and RY, on the output side of the first and second detecting circuits 2, and 2,, respectively, are each de-energized when the aforesaid low-level signal is applied to the input of the corresponding circuit. If the indicator tube 1 is exhibiting either of the digits 1 to 4, high-level signals are applied to the inputs of both the first and second detecting circuits, so that their relay coils are both energized, and contacts 7, and 7, respectively under the control of these relay coils are thereby opened, or closed, according to a predetermined schedule. In this manner it is detected that the indicator tube is exhibiting either of the digits 8 l ,9 $4.,

When either of the digits to 9 is exhibited by the indicator tube, a low-level signal is applied to the input of the second detecting circuit 2,, so that its relay coil RY, is de-energized and the relay contacts 7, closed or opened as aforesaid, whereas a high-level signal is applied to the input of the first detecting circuit 2,, so that its relay coil RY, is energized and the relay contacts 7, opened or closed. Thus it is detected that the indicator tube is exhibiting either of the digits 5 to 9. When the digit 0" is exhibited, a low-level signal is applied to the input of the first detecting circuit 2, thereby de-energizing its relay coil RY, and closing, or opening, the relay contacts 7,, whereas the relay coil RY, is energized and the relay contacts 7, opened, or closed, so that it is seen that the digit 0 is being exhibited.

If, in the money dispensing machine furnished with the above described system of data discrimination in accordance with this invention, the operator instructs the dispensation of 37,500 yen and sets the machine in operation through a procedure belonging to the prior art, the digit 3 is stored in the indicator tube 1 of the digit place for an amount to be released in tens of thousands of yen, so that the relay coil RY, of the first detecting circuit 2, associated therewith is energized. As the relay contacts 7, are thus opened, or closed, a

money dispensing drum, not shown, becomes operative to successively release three notes of 10,000-yen denomination. When the three. 10,000-yen notes have been produced, the comparator 4 supplies a signal of agreement (between the digit occupying the digit place now under consideration and the number of the notes actually produced) to the drum control circuit 3 in accordance with the prior art, The machine is then made ready for the production of the amount of money registered in the next lower digit place.

Since the digit 7 is stored in the indicator tube 1 of the digit place for the amount of the order of thousands, the relay coil RY, is energized and the relay contacts 7, opened, or closed, whereas the relay coil RY, is de-energized and the relay contacts 7, closed, or opened. Thus it is detected that either of the digits 5 to 9 is registered in that digit place. By the switching operations of the relay contacts 7, and 7,, a note of 5,000-yen denomination is first released, followed by two notes of 1,000-yen denomination. Upon completion of the production of the required amount of money, an agreement signal is similarly produced by the comparator 4.

The digit 5 is stored in the indicator tube 1 of the next lower digit place. Since then the relay coil RY, of the first detecting circuit 2, is not energized, thereby indicating that the digit registered in-other than 0, one 500-yen note is released by the operation of the relay contacts 7,. The total amount of 37,500 yen is thus dispensed in the minimum number of notes available, that is, three 10,000-yen notes, one 5,000-yen note, two 1,000-yen notes, and one 500-yen note.

Although, in the first preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, only the second detecting circuit 2, is equipped with the switch SW,, a similar switch SW, is also connected between ground and a point between series-connected resistances 5, and 6, of the first detecting circuit 2, in the second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Ordinarily, both. the switches SW, and SW, may be kept open, in order to enable the first and second detecting circuits to discriminate whether the digit exhibited by the indicator tube 1 of the digit place now under consideration is 0, in the range of I to 4, or in the range of 5" to 9.

In case an amount of money as exhibited by the indicator tube is to be released without the aid of the first and second etecting circuits, as for example in dispensing up to nine notes or coins of one and the same denomination for each digit of the number representing the amount of money, both the switches SW, and SW, are closed to introduce ground potential to the input side of the first and second detecting circuits and hence to render these circuits inoperable. In this manner, the amount of money as first stored in and exhibited by the indicator tubes is retained until the complete amount is produced.

Although the system of data discrimination in accordance with this invention has been shown and described in the foregoing in terms of some preferred embodiments thereof, it is assumed that the invention, itself, is not to be restricted thereby. For example, it will be apparent that the invention is readily adaptable for use with currencies other that the Japanese yen considered in this specification. The switches SW, and SW, provided in the first and second detecting circuits 2, and 2,, respectively, are also subject to a variety of modifications, but it must be understood that, essentially, these switches are provided to introduce such potential to the input side of the respective detecting circuits that they are temporarily rendered inoperative. All such modifications, substitutions, and changes are contemplated as being within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a money dispensing apparatus having a plurality of indicator tubes for respectively exhibiting the digits of a number representative of an amount of money to be released, a system of discriminating the respective digits exhibited by said indicator tubes comprising a plurality of first detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminal of each of said indicator tubes which corresponds to the digit 0 to be exhibited, each of said first detecting circuits having an output member the condition of which is affected ac cording to a signal supplied from said output terminal of the corresponding one of said indicator tubes, and a plurality of second detecting circuits each an input connected to the output terminals of each of said indicator tubes which are provided correspondingly to preselected ones of the digits other than 0" to be exhibited, each of said second detecting circuits having an output member the condition of which is affected according to a signal supplied from either of the last recited output terminals of the corresponding one of said indicator tubes.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said output member of each of said first and second detecting circuits is a pair of relay coils.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second detecting circuits are each provided with means whereby they are temporarily rendered inoperable as required.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said first detecting circuits are also each provided with means whereby they are temporarily rendered inoperable as required.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said means for temporarily rendering each of said first and said second detecting circuits is a switch connected between ground and the input side of each circuit to introduce ground potential thereto. 

1. In a money dispensing apparatus having a plurality of indicator tubes for respectively exhibiting the digits of a number representative of an amount of money to be released, a system of discriminating the respective digits exhibited by said indicator tubes comprising a plurality of first detecting circuits each having an input connected to the output terminal of each of said iNdicator tubes which corresponds to the digit ''''0'''' to be exhibited, each of said first detecting circuits having an output member the condition of which is affected according to a signal supplied from said output terminal of the corresponding one of said indicator tubes, and a plurality of second detecting circuits each an input connected to the output terminals of each of said indicator tubes which are provided correspondingly to preselected ones of the digits other than ''''0'''' to be exhibited, each of said second detecting circuits having an output member the condition of which is affected according to a signal supplied from either of the last recited output terminals of the corresponding one of said indicator tubes.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said output member of each of said first and second detecting circuits is a pair of relay coils.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second detecting circuits are each provided with means whereby they are temporarily rendered inoperable as required.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said first detecting circuits are also each provided with means whereby they are temporarily rendered inoperable as required.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said means for temporarily rendering each of said first and said second detecting circuits is a switch connected between ground and the input side of each circuit to introduce ground potential thereto. 